Adam Cartwright comes to the aid of schoolteacher Barbara (portrayed by Mariette Hartley), who has been bound to a burning post by her rebellious students. As Barbara recuperates, Adam steps in to manage her classroom, determined to educate her challenging pupils on the history of the Nevada Territory. In the process, he stumbles upon unexpected revelations, uncovering deep and dark secrets involving prominent citizens of the territory. Originally aired on March 7, 1965, Right is the Fourth R was penned by Jerry Adelman.

Explore the detailed storyline and intriguing trivia, or enjoy the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of Right Is the Fourth R

Watch the Full Episode of Right Is the Fourth R:

Main Cast

Right Is the Fourth R, the twenty-fourth episode of Bonanza’s sixth season, featured some of the program’s recurring and supporting cast members. The cast of the episode includes the following:

• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• Everett Sloane as Colonel Scott
• Mariette Hartley as Barbara Scott
• Barry Kelley as Sam Chaffee
• Grandon Rhodes as Doctor
• John Barton as Townsman (uncredited)
• Rudy Bowman as Townsman (uncredited)
• Bill Clark as Schoolhouse Fight Thug (uncredited)
• Betty Endicott as Townswoman (uncredited)
• Michael Jeffers as Townsman (uncredited)
• Bob LaWandt as Board Member (uncredited)
• Martha Manor as Townswoman (uncredited)
• Bob Miles as Schoolhouse Fight Thug (uncredited)
• Hans Moebus as Board Member (uncredited)
• Cap Somers as Townsman (uncredited)
• Jack Tornek as Board Member (uncredited)
• Sailor Vincent as Townsman (uncredited)
• Henry Wills as Schoolhouse Fight Thug (uncredited)

Full Story Line for Right Is the Fourth R

Adam comes to the aid of Barbara, the beleaguered schoolteacher in Virginia City, saving her from her unruly classroom. Stepping into her shoes, Adam takes on the challenge of teaching the troublesome children the history of the Nevada territory. However, in the process, he uncovers unsettling secrets about the territory’s influential figures, gaining an unexpected education.

Full Script and Dialogue of Right Is the Fourth R

Hand me that old
bag and toss it up here.

Toss it up? You
gotta be kidding.

Oh, boy. Come on, brother.

You got no muscles?

COLONEL: Well,
good morning, boys.

- Good morning, Colonel.
- Morning.

Your father come
into town with you?

Yes, sir. He's over at the bank.

Good. I'll look in him.




Just a minute, I've got some
books that Barbara asked for.

I wonder if you'd
see she gets them.

Well, certainly, Adam.

But why don't you take them
to her over at the school?

I'm sure she'd be
glad to see you.

By the way, Colonel, how is
that niece of yours getting along?

I'm proud of that girl.

I think she's going to make
this town a fine school teacher.

Youngins ain't giving
her too much trouble?

Well, this is rough, frontier
country and she knows it.

But she also knows it's a
teacher's job to start shaping

the kind of country
this is going to be.

Sounds like there's quite a
gal behind that pretty face.

Oh, there is.




Colonel, you know you've done
a lot of fine things for Virginia City,

but bringing your niece
out here to teach the school

may turn out to be the
most important of all.

I'd like to think so.

Well, it was pleasant
running into you boys.

And now I'll be on my way, see
if I can catch up with your father.

- Take it easy, Colonel.
- Colonel.

Ah, Adam, I'll buy you a drink.

It might put some
muscle on them bones.

- Besides that, I'm thirsty.
- So am I.

But I've got to walk over to the
school and get those books to Barbara.

Well, that's too bad, Adam.

You've got to walk all
the way down to the school

- and then all the way back again.
- Oh, I don't mind.

I'll bet you don't.

[CHILDREN LAUGHING
AND CHATTERING]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

BARBARA: Somebody
untie me. Now stop this.

Stop it. Stop it.

Somebody untie me!

All right, everybody
inside. Let's go.

I gather that most
of you have decided

that school is just a
place for fun and games.

Well, I would like to
tell you something.

Going to school can
determine the rest of your life.

It's a privilege that you
will be getting benefits from

for more years than you
have been alive so far.

And now if it's all
right with Miss Scott,

maybe you would like to
go home and think it over.

You're excused.

Thank you.

Barbara.

Sit down.

[SIGHS]

Now we knew this wasn't
going to be an easy job.

You know what
Virginia City is like.

Right.

Now, you took this job because
you thought it was important.

You had an obligation...

I believe that was the
word you used, obligation.

You wanted to point
this frontier toward...

Toward culture.

Now, you probably
don't think so right now

because of what just
happened out there.

But is the job any less an
obligation than it was two days ago?

No, it isn't.

But do you still think
I can do the job?

Yes. If you think you can.

I'll try.

I'll tell you one
thing for sure.

I'll do all I can to help.

As a member of the
school board and as a friend.

As a member of the school board
and as a friend, what's your advice?

Well, I'm glad you
asked that, young lady.

I think you should
get some fresh air.

I think that you and your uncle should
come out Sunday to the Ponderosa

and we'll get some
horses and go riding.

I don't know how to ride.
I've never been on a horse.

I'll teach you.

Can I try it by myself?

Sure, go ahead.

You've got a good pupil there.

It must be kind of strange
teaching the teacher, huh, Adam?

Nothing strange about it.

To be a good teacher you first have
to be a good pupil, and she's good.

She's a good what? Teacher?

Sure she's a good
teacher, but I meant pupil.

What's the teacher
teaching the teacher?

Will you cut that out?

Watching her ride in circles
and listening to you talk in circles

is making me dizzy.

Well, how goes the job
of teaching the teacher?

Oh, great, here we go again.

COLONEL: You're
doing very well, Barbara.

Why not? The teacher
has a good teacher.

Ugh.

Adam, do I have to ride around
here? Can we go out for awhile?

ADAM: I think it's enough
for the first time out.

Maybe after lunch
we can take that ride.

Just tie him up over there.

All right. Come on.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

Hoss, you better get the doctor.

DOCTOR: You're going to have to
take it easy for a while, young lady.

- How easy?
- Well, for one thing,

you're going to have to stay
at home for at least two weeks.

And then it will be another
two weeks before that bone

really has a chance to
knit itself together again.

I'll see that she
follows orders, Doctor.

And, uh, thank you very
much for all your kindness.

Not at all.

Now, um, Adam, if you'll
stop teaching people

how to fall off horses,

maybe I can get
Hoss to drive me home,

and finish my dinner.

- I'd be happy to do, Doc.
- Ha-ha-ha.

Goodbye, all.

Barbara, I think you ought to
rest a bit before you go back home.

- Thank you.
- Uh...

Could I get you some
hot tea or something?

- Oh, no, thank you. Don't bother.
- Anything at all?

[SIGHS]

There's something worrying me.

What's that, my dear?

Well, obviously it's gonna be difficult
for me to teach school for awhile.

Oh, you're not going to
teach school for awhile.

The doctor left definite orders.

BARBARA: Well, then
we'll have to find a substitute.

I don't know anybody in
these parts who can do the job.

I do.

- Who?
- Adam Cartwright.

Ha, ha. Don't be silly.

Adam, I'm serious.

You can't be, Barbara.
I'm not qualified.

You're the only one who
understands what I've been trying to do.

And nobody else feels
it's as important as you do.

You used that word,
Adam, "important."

And you used another word too.

"Help."

You said you'd be willing
to help me as a friend.

You used that word too, Adam.

How are you feeling?

Fine.

It's gonna be a little rough

- teaching school the next few weeks.
- Oh, uh...

I think your brother's just
become our new school teacher.

Yeah, I guess I did.

Why, I think Adam
will do a fine job.

And now that that's settled, uh,

we ought to be thinking
about getting on home.

Yeah. Joe, will you bring the surrey
around to the front of the house?

- Joe.
- Oh.

Teacher, may I leave the room?

- I wish you would.
- Ha, ha.

[ALL LAUGHING]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

- Hello, Adam.
- Hello.

How is the teacher?

Well, I guess I'll survive.

This, uh, teaching is a
little bit harder than I figured.

- How are you feeling?
- Oh, I'm so bored.

If I have to stay around this house
one more day, I think I'll scream.

Now, what about the school?

Well, that's, uh, what I
came to talk to you about.

Oh, how unflattering.

I thought it was my irresistible
beauty that drew you here.

[CHUCKLES]

For a girl with a bad shoulder,
you're feeling pretty good today.

Oh, it's so good to see you,

after mooning around
here all by myself.

Well, what about the school?

Well, you remember how we
talked about, uh, teaching something

besides the three R's?

Mm-hm.

Well, I've got an idea
about teaching some history.

We have a history course.

I know, but, uh, our own
history, history of the territory.

Sounds like an interesting idea.

I have an idea the
children will like the frontier.

After all, they're a part of it.

In a way, it's a
history of America.

Adam, I think that's
a splendid idea.

But it would take some
research, wouldn't it?

Ha, ha, oh, it sure will.

I'll be lucky to stay one
day ahead of the class.

But I've got an idea that, uh, might
make the research a little bit easier.

What?

Well, a great deal has happened
here in a short length of time.

A lot of it happened
in the last 50 years,

so there are men still
alive who made it happen.

Men like the Colonel, my father,

Phillip Diedesheimer
and Sam Chaffee.

You can talk to them
about it. Get it firsthand.

I'm going to write Sam
Chaffee in California,

have a few talks with my father,

and quite a few
sessions with your uncle.

- He'll be so flattered.
- I'm glad you approve.

And you might warn your
uncle that I'll be picking his brain

- and making a nuisance of myself.
- Heh, he won't mind at all.

[CHILDREN CHEERING]

Afternoon, Colonel. It's
good of you to stop by.

How goes the school
teaching, Adam?

Well, it's coming along.

How's Barbara?

She's getting
restless, poor child.

She tells me that, uh,
you want to talk to me.

Yes, I do. Why
don't you come in?

Did Barbara tell you
what I wanted of you?

Yes, something about picking my
brain for a course in territorial history

- that you want to give.
- Yes, I, uh...

I thought that I could make
the history live for them, the kids,

through men like
you, who made it.

Well, Adam, I, uh... I think
you exaggerate my importance.

After all, I was
only one of many.

But you're one of the few
still left. You and Sam Chaffee.

Sam Chaffee.

It's been 20 years
since I've seen Sam.

You know, Adam, he's
a smarter man than I am,

you ought to talk to him.

Well, I've already sent him a
letter. But, uh, you I can talk to, so.

I'll tell you what you do, why
don't you sort of reminisce,

just sort of ramble and
start right from the beginning.

I'll take notes.

Well, if, uh... If
you think it will help.

Oh, it will. Believe me.

Well, then, I, uh...

I first saw this territory
about 30 years ago.

I was already in the Army.

I came out here with
a surveying party.

Virginia City didn't exist then.

Matter of fact, there was very
little evidence of civilization.

Checkmate.

Uncle, you're not
paying any attention.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Who can that be?

Hello, Colonel.

Hello, Sam.

It's been a long time.

Nice place you've got here.

Oh, uh... My niece,
Barbara. Mr. Chaffee.

How do you do, Mr. Chaffee?

How do you do?

I knew that brains
ran in the Scott family,

it's nice to see that
beauty does too.

Thank you.

Sam, would you come
into my office, please?

Of course.

Very nice to have met you, Miss.

How have you been, Colonel?

Fine.

I see you've put
on a little weight.

I'm eating better than
the last time you saw me.

And the California
climate agrees with me.

I've got a nice place out
there. Nearly as nice as this.

Sam, I told you we should
never see each other again.

What did you come here for?

Well, Colonel, you've been
doing well and I've been doing well.

I imagine you'd like to keep
things that way. I know I would.

But it seems like we may
be in for a little trouble.

What trouble?

I got a letter from a man
named Adam Cartwright.

Yes, Adam, uh... Adam
told me he was writing you.

Adam is taking my niece's place
as school teacher temporarily,

while she recovers
from her accident.

I know. He wrote me that.

Also, that he's teaching
some local history.

Yes, and it seems that we're
about the only two old fogies leftover

from the early days.

[CHUCKLES]

He's been asking me quite a
few questions about those days.

Is that why you came
here, to see Adam?

Out there, I told your
niece I knew you had brains.

Have you forgotten
how to use them?

What do you mean by that?

Have you also forgotten
some of the history we made?

Adam is going to teach
historical generalities.

He's not going
into personal things.

How do you know?

How do you know that these little
gab fests of yours might not inspire him

to dig a little deeper
than generalities?

I know.

Besides, he can find nothing,
nothing. It's impossible.

Anything is possible.

And I'm not taking any chances.

I like what I've
got, how I live.

I don't mean to
have it taken away.

Now, you tell this
Adam Cartwright

that his little excursion
into territorial history is over.

I'm afraid that's
going to be difficult.

Not when you consider
the alternatives.

I understand you're a
friend of these Cartwrights.

Well, you better do
something, Colonel.

Otherwise, I will.

And I'm not a friend of theirs.

All right. I'll try.

Do more than try,
Colonel. Get results.

I'll be staying at the
hotel until you do.

Good night, Miss Scott. I'm
very pleased to have met you.

Good night, Mr. Chaffee.
It was nice meeting you too.

- Good night, Colonel.
- Good night.

Uncle?

Was that the same Mr. Chaffee
that Adam was talking about?

Yes. We, uh...

We knew each
other a long time ago,

when we were young.

- Barbara, I'd like you to do me a favor.
- Of course.

Tell Adam I don't want any
more interviews about the past.

I'm a busy man and it takes
up too much of my time.

That's too bad.

Just when Adam was
getting so enthusiastic

about the progress
he was making.

He said he could even teach
the course in another week.

Well, he'll just
have to forget it.

Digging into old men's memories
is a silly occupation, anyhow.

Did Mr. Chaffee have anything
to do with your change of mind?

No. No, no.

He just happened to be in
Virginia City on business.

Although he did say that he
received a letter from Adam

asking a lot of fool questions.

Like me, he's too busy
for that sort of thing, so.

You tell Adam, huh?

Yes, Uncle.

BARBARA: He asked me to speak
to you about those interviews, Adam.

He told me to tell you that

he was just too busy
to continue with them.

I'm sorry.

I can't understand it, he was
so enthusiastic, so cooperative.

I can't either.

Except the night
he changed his mind

was the night Sam
Chaffee came to see him.

Is Chaffee in town?

Mm-hm.

- On business, so my Uncle says.
- Uh-huh.

Well, no point in my
talking to Chafee, either.

I got an answer to my letter.

Among other things,

he said that I was impertinent.

Maybe he did
influence your uncle.

Maybe.

That's too bad.

I'll just have to dig into
books and documents

instead of getting it firsthand.

I'm sorry, Adam.

Well, it's not your fault.

Well, I'd better
be going, I guess.

- Good night, Barbara.
- Good night.

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

Hello, boys.

Ah, good morning,
Colonel. Come in.

Yes, if, uh... If you
have some time.

Recess still has 10
minutes. Good to see you.

- Sit down.
- Thank you.

I hope that you've
changed your mind.

Well, no. On the contrary.

Since Barbara tells me that you
will persist in your history course,

even without my
dubious contributions,

I felt I ought to have this
conversation with you.

All right. What's on your mind?

Simply this.

Do you really
believe that, uh...

That the parents are
interested in having their children

burdened with this extra course?

I doubt if some of the parents
give the matter of school courses

any thought at all.

Why, certainly they do, my boy.

They want their children
to learn reading and writing

- and arithmetic.
- And?

Well, certainly nothing as
useless as a history of the territory.

I wouldn't call it
useless, Colonel.

As a matter of fact, I
don't think any knowledge

could really be
called "useless."

That gets us into
a field of academic,

philosophic inquiry that I
don't think we ought to go into.

But...

About this little
history course of yours.

If you'll drop it, I will
consider it a personal tribute

to my mature judgment.

In all good conscience,

I'm afraid I can't do that.

[SIGHS]

All right, Adam.

Give my best to Barbara.

I'll do that, my boy.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Adam, are you going to get
any sleep one of these nights?

I didn't realize how much work I was
getting into when I started this course.

[CHUCKLES]

- How's it going?
- Fine.

The kids seem to
really be enjoying it.

They seem to be taking at home

and their parents
are getting interested.

Yeah, there's a
lot of talk about it.

As a matter of fact, Colonel
Scott dropped by this afternoon

to talk to me about it.

- Oh?
- Yeah, he, uh...

He doesn't seem to be entirely
in favor of the whole thing.

He asked me to see if I
could get you to drop it.

Funny. He asked the same
thing directly, a couple of days ago.

Really? He didn't tell me that.

Did he say why he
wanted the course dropped?

I gather he thinks
it's a waste of time.

I don't like the idea of Colonel
Scott trying to tell a teacher

what he can or cannot teach.

Well, I don't either.
And I told him so.

So Colonel Scott has called
a meeting of the school board.

- He what?
- Yeah.

For tomorrow night
at the schoolhouse.

I wonder why he's going
so far over a history course.

Well, maybe we'll
find out tomorrow night.

Gentlemen, I'm terribly sorry.

My horse threw a shoe,
and... Sorry we're late.

Oh, just a minute, Adam.

I protest Adam Cartwright's
being at this meeting.

I think I should be
able to tell my story

without being inhibited
by your presence.

I think the board, as
well as the whole town,

knows your side of it.

Colonel, Adam and I are
members of this board.

Exactly.

And if things get
down to a vote,

I think that his vote will be
even more prejudiced than yours.

I think you're being a
little presumptuous...

That's all right. I'll leave.

The Colonel's right. He should have
the freedom to say what he wants.

Gentlemen.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Now, gentlemen.

No one is more interested in
the history of this territory than I.

Because, as Adam
himself has pointed out,

I was part of it.

But I believe that history
needs the element of time

in order to gain perspective.

Otherwise, it becomes
just one man's opinion.

In this case, Adam Cartwright's,

who is not even
qualified as a teacher,

but is merely substituting
temporarily for my niece.

Now, I should think that a man
with no background in teaching

would have his
work cut out for him

just drilling the basics of
reading, writing and arithmetic,

without trying to
teach a new course

that requires extra
work from the children,

that interferes with
their chores at home.

[HORSE APPROACHING]

Well, thank you,
Charlie. Good to see you.

Well, am I fired?

Nope.

Although the Colonel tried
every which way to have you fired.

What made him lose?

Ah, he...

made a mistake of putting
everything on a personal basis.

He said the board
should indulge him

because of what
he'd done for the town.

As your advocate, I must say

I made a very effective
presentation of your case.

The vote was unanimous for
you to be allowed to continue.

You don't seem
very pleased about it.

Well, frankly, I'm not.

I'm afraid we've lost an
old friend in Colonel Scott.

He's a man who has contributed
a great deal to the territory.

Well, you see that's
what I don't understand.

If the Colonel has contributed so
much to the history of this territory,

then why doesn't he
want me to teach it?

I've got every book that's ever
been written about this territory.

I've got every document, map,
paper, pamphlet, record of reference

I could get my hands on.

You're going to be quite an authority
by the time you get through this.

We'll have one friend less but
you're sure going to be an authority.

It's funny.

I started out to teach a
course in territorial history.

Somehow it's gotten
all out of proportion.

Hmm. Well, what...? What
made it go out of proportion?

Maybe you ought to
re-examine your position.

Adam, are you sure that
you're just not annoyed

because the Colonel tried to
stop you from doing something

that you set out to do?

No.

I think my position
is quite clear.

I just want to teach a simple
course in territorial history.

But it doesn't seem
to be that simple.

But the answer is here.

Somewhere.

You put in a lot of late
nights over these books.

You ought to get some rest.

Goodnight.

Hello, Adam.

What are you
doing here so early?

I wanted to talk to you.

About the school board
meeting last night?

No.

About, um...

coming back to my job.

My arm is all better, and...

I see. So your uncle did speak to
you about the meeting last night.

Adam.

Don't make it any
more difficult than it is.

I love my uncle.

I know you do, Barbara.

So the job is yours.

I'll, uh...

I'll finish out the day.

It's Friday. You can
take over Monday.

And tell your uncle I'll have
my things out by tonight.

[OBJECTS CRASHING]

[BLOWS LANDING AND MEN GRUNTING]

You have no idea who they were?

No.

Somebody sent them in, I'm sure.

Hired them, you mean?

I hope they get paid.
They earned their money.

I think we all have a pretty
good idea who paid them.

We know who it was, don't
we? It's Colonel Scott, wasn't it?

Yeah. But we can't prove that.

I've known Colonel
Scott for a long time.

Always reasonable and generous,

one of the most respected
men in the territory.

I couldn't possibly associate
him with this kind of violence.

But, Pa, facts are facts. I
think we ought to confront him.

Well.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I'll get it.

Barbara, come on in.

I heard what happened in town.

It's nothing serious.

Nothing more serious than
what three hired toughs can do.

Adam, I had no
idea he'd go this far.

Barbara, we're not sure
who's behind all this.

Oh, aren't we?

He's suddenly
become a different man.

We had a terrible argument.

On account of me?

I believe in what
you're doing, Adam.

When I told my uncle

that I was going to go
continue with the history course

he told me to leave.

- To leave?
- Yes.

I'm going back
East, Mr. Cartwright.

I just came over to say goodbye.

What about your school teaching?

I don't know what to do.

Well, you'll go back to
teaching. That's what you'll do.

And you'll honor us by staying
here until you've got yourself settled.

Oh, I couldn't impose on you.

Well, don't worry about
that. You'll earn your keep.

If you're going to continue
teaching that history course,

as you said to your uncle,

then I'm going to need your
help finishing up my notes.

I thought you had given up.

This beating changed my mind.

Besides, I'm on the edge of
discovering something new.

You'll see what I mean
when we get into my notes, so.

Why don't we just get
started, huh? Come on.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come in.

Well, hello, Colonel.

This is right neighborly of you.

- This is not a neighborly visit, Sam.
- Oh?

Did you have Adam
Cartwright beaten up?

Ha-ha-ha. Well,
the funny thing is,

I'll bet the Cartwrights
figure you did it.

There isn't going to be
any more violence, Sam.

I warned you once in the past
about violence and you ignored me.

But you took advantage of it
all the same, didn't you, Colonel?

Now you listen to me.

I am ready to use this
gun any time I have to,

just as I did in the past.

Whether or not I use it on
Adam Cartwright, that's up to you.

You get him to shut up and
everything's going to be all right.

You can keep your precious good
name, and I'll keep what I've got.

Sam, Adam Cartwright
doesn't have anything on us.

And even if by chance he did stumble
across something, he couldn't use it.

Why, he's too smart a young man
to make an accusation without proof.

And there is no proof,
Sam, you know that.

[CHUCKLES]

You were always
the talker, Colonel.

Leaving it to me
to do something.

So I am telling you, if Adam
Cartwright makes one more speech,

teaches one more class,
I'll take care of him my way.

You beginning to see?
According to this original land grant,

this line ran from
here to there.

But according to the Army survey
made by your uncle 30 years ago,

the line runs from here to here.

It's like a thin pie wedge.

Yes. A thin slice.

But until the mines ran out
and the timber was gone,

one of the richest
slices in the territory.

And my uncle?

Well, I don't know. He
changed the line, but...

Sam Chaffee filed on it.

My uncle said that
he and Mr. Chaffee

were business
partners years ago.

Oh, Adam, if we prove that
my uncle is responsible for this,

it'll be terrible.

I don't know.

The records are so old and altered
they merely point to suspicion.

I don't know if we
can prove anything.

[WOOD CREAKING]

Shh.

What is it?

- What's wrong?
- Shh.

[TWIG SNAPS]

What are you trying to do,
Charlie, get yourself killed?

Charlie speak you.

Come on in.

Well?

Well, I must have visited
every family in Virginia City,

even those without children.

They'll all be at the
schoolhouse tonight?

Yep.

And we may also have
some trouble tonight.

Maybe worse than there's been.

Well. It's a chance
I have to take.

[SIGHS]

Where's Little Joe?

Other side of the schoolhouse.

Just in case Adam's three
friends try something else.

Not a bad idea.

You keep your
eyes open this side.

All right.

- I'm sorry, Barbara.
- I understand.

I still love my uncle.

But I guess the truth is more
important than my love for him.

Well, I'm afraid I
can't judge that.

- Maybe the truth will free him.
- I can't judge that either.

- Would you take care of her?
- Sure.

Adam?

May I, uh...? May I speak
with you for a moment, please?

All right, Colonel.

Look, Adam, try to forget
all the unpleasantness

that's come up
between us lately.

Try to remember
the years of friendship

I've had with you
and your family.

At first, I've... I asked
you to give this thing up.

- Now I am pleading with you.
- Colonel.

Because if you go through
with what you're going to do,

if you besmirch my
name without proof,

you could put yourself
in a grave position.

I will be forced to
seek legal redress.

I'll have to take that chance.

Let me put it this way.

I'm not pleading for myself.

That may be hard for you to
believe, knowing all I stand to lose.

But I'm pleading for you,
Adam. I'm pleading for your life.

Sounds like a threat, Colonel.

I don't mean it as a
threat. But as a warning.

Not in anger but in
friendship, I beg you.

I'm sorry, I can't.

Ladies and gentlemen, may
I have your attention, please.

You all know what I've been trying
to do here as a substitute teacher.

But when I took the job I
decided to teach a little history

about the territory, and the
men who made that history.

And as I studied, to bring this
history into focus, I was opposed.

I couldn't figure out why.

But perhaps, out of
human stubbornness,

this made me persist even more.

I talked to a man who
was part of our history.

He told me of a surveying expedition
in this territory by an Army party

of which he was a member.

When I finally dug into
this, I found the truth.

The young surveyor
moved a line on a map.

Just a few inches. But it
encompassed a hundred miles.

An accomplice
filed on this land.

There was one
hitch in their plan.

A small band of Indians lived on
the land and claimed it their own.

In the night the
village was raided.

Every Indian was
killed and buried.

The village was razed.

From the timber and
mines of this stolen land,

with murder the price, two men
laid the basis of their vast fortune.

Records only
hinted at this story.

They were old,
altered, destroyed,

but nevertheless,
the story was true.

Now, it was not merely a question
of a teacher's right to teach,

but of telling or
suppressing a truth.

This truth could destroy two men

whose names loom
proudly in our history.

And the man who names them

is the man who has
waited 30 years to do so.

Thirty years of
fear, until tonight.

[PEOPLE MUTTERING]

One man survived the
massacre. A brave...

[CROWD SCREAMING]

Well, he's dead.
The proof is gone.

Is it worth it? Was it
worth it 30 years ago?

No.

Please, I have
something to say to you.

I was that man.

That surveyor that
Adam was talking about.

And that man was my partner.

[ALL CHATTERING]

I did not participate in the
extinction of that Indian village,

but I kept silent when
I did know about it.

I profited from the land.

Somehow I think
in my heart, I...

I always knew that one day I
would be called into account.

That day is here.

And I will pay
whatever you decide...

it must be.

[ALL CHATTERING]

Well, maybe I was wrong.

Maybe the truth costs too much.

Sometimes it costs a great deal.

But it's always less
than the cost of hiding it.

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

Bonanza is a remarkable family-friendly series that offers enjoyable viewing for individuals and families alike. Right Is the Fourth R marks the 192nd episode out of 430. Produced by NBC, Bonanza aired on their network from September 1959 to January 1973, completing an impressive run of 14 seasons.

You can find more about any of the 430 Bonanza episodes here>>